A one-sided game
The Vietnamese national team is getting stronger precisely because of its openness – openness in its playing style, openness in its player selection, and openness in connecting resources.
Nguyen Xuan Son and Do Hoang Hen
Vietnam didn't go into the match with the mindset of just getting it over with. From the start, the team proactively set the pace, controlled the game, and created constant pressure. The opening goal by captain and central defender Do Duy Manh came early, acting as a catalyst to relieve pressure and lay the groundwork for a one-sided game.
Malaysia is not lacking in motivation. They prepared thoroughly, trained in Thailand, and brought a squad of 51 players to Vietnam, including 13 out of 28 players with multinational backgrounds. Their goal is clear: to prove that without the controversies surrounding naturalized players, they can still defeat Vietnam.
But on the field, all tactical maneuvers were quickly neutralized. Vietnam controlled the midfield, organized their play coherently, and, most importantly, capitalized on opportunities far better.
The power of harmony
The noteworthy aspect lies in how Vietnam utilized their players. The starting lineup included goalkeeper Filip Nguyen and defender Quang Vinh – two naturalized Vietnamese-born players – along with two Brazilian-born players, Nguyen Xuan Son and Do Hoang Hen.
But the value lies not in their background, but in how they integrate into the system. There are no longer "insider-outsider" boundaries, only a smoothly functioning collective.
Nguyen Xuan Son scored a brace.
Their chemistry was evident in their midfield combinations, where the trio of Hai Long, Hoang Hen, and Nguyen Xuan Son formed interconnected triangles. This wasn't just about technique, but about mutual understanding, honed at the club level and further developed at the national team, especially between the Son-Hen duo.
Xuan Son's goal, which extended the lead to 2-0, was the result of that very connection. A fluid combination, a perfectly timed touch. In the context of him becoming the center of attention with the film "I Am Nguyen Xuan Son," this goal was also the striker's way of overcoming pressure.
Do Hoang Hen played very well, but unfortunately he wasn't "lucky" enough to score a goal.
For the third goal, Xuan Son completed his brace with a powerful header that narrowly missed the post – a finish showcasing his killer instinct, capping off the peak of their dominant performance.
Malaysia pulled one back from a penalty to make it 1-3, but that was a late highlight in a match where they were almost completely outplayed, and only rallied towards the end of the first half when coach Kim Sang-sil successively substituted key players.
Son and Hen were overjoyed after scoring a goal.
Vietnam's three goals clearly reflect a picture: one goal by a domestic player (Duy Manh), two goals by naturalized players (Xuan Son); and assists from both sources. There are no boundaries, only complementarity.
That's the image of a team that knows how to open itself up to become stronger, not only in football, but also in its development mindset: ready to embrace external resources and, more importantly, knowing how to integrate them to create collective strength.
The Vietnamese team convincingly defeated Malaysia.
The 3-1 victory against Malaysia was therefore not just a result, but an affirmation that, when played in the right way, the Vietnamese team not only wins, but wins convincingly with a more competitive version of themselves.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/viet-nam-malaysia-3-1-chien-thang-toan-dien-196260331212721897.htm
![[Photo] General Secretary and President To Lam and the President of the Philippines hold talks.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/06/01/1780283481955_vna-potal-tong-bi-thu-chu-tich-nuoc-to-lam-va-tong-thong-philippines-hoi-dam-8797519-1429-jpg.webp)
Comment (0)